Croatia has moved a step closer to launching a legalised online poker service after its proposed gambling laws were given approval by the European Commission.
Having received approval from the European Union’s operative body, the Croatian gambling law will now be introduced into the national parliament.
According to various media reports, the legislation will require operators interested in offering games to Croatian players to apply for a specific gambling licence from the Ministry of Finance, pay a start-up fee of HRK3 million (€391,212/$487,818) and commit to an annual fee of the same amount.
Operators will also have to meet financial criteria by having a bank deposit of HRK3 million, in order to guarantee their financial stability.
Companies that wish to operate in Croatia will also be subject to a certain taxation structure, with the national government planning to ask operators to pay a 5% monthly levy on gross revenue.
At the same time, operators will have to establish a tiered incremental tax that players will pay on any winnings.
These tiers will be of 10% winnings from HRK750 to HRK10,000, 15% up to HRK30,000, 20% up to HRK500,000 and 30% for any winnings above that.
Operators will also have to withhold the amount from the winnings and pay takes in lieu of the players.
source : www.igamingbusiness.com
